Vox

Today we’re bringing you an episode of the Vox daily news podcast Today, Explained. It’s a show that’s about the biggest stories of the day, and – like The Gray Area – it tries to make sense of what those stories tell us about our culture and our world. Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO This week, voters delivered a sweeping rebuke to Trump and the Republican party, handing Democrats control of the House and Senate. So this is a good moment to take stock: How did Trump’s brand of politics change America? What has populism actually achieved, who are its new proponents, and are we ever going back? Host: Noel King, co-host and editorial director, Today, Explained Guests: Jonathan Chait, staff writer, The Atlantic and Eric Levitz, senior correspondent, Vox 00:28 The 2026 midterm elections and the rise of populism 01:59 Right-wing and left-wing populist movements 09:14 The economic limits of populism 14:41 The media environment and political upheaval 24:11 Future outlook: AI, tech oligarchy We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show. And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday. Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com. Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H